It’s true not all witches are bad, but some really are.

The quiet town of Borlencad sat quietly for years. People went about their business fishing, farming, and trading. Then, one day out of the blue, witchcraft popped up in their sleepy little town.

Karenna, a simple hedge witch who made her living as an apothecary, stumbled upon an old altar in the back of a cave while foraging for mushrooms. The altar contained a secret compartment that held a Vile Book of Shadows, a cursed tome of evil magicks. Curious, she read into the book despite its strange leather cover with arcane symbols etched into it.

The old tome fascinated Karenna, who slowly began to age and wither with corruption from the book. The magick from the book was intoxicating! She read more and more. She could feel her own powers rise.

Karenna set up her living space and witchcraft practice in the back of the cave with the altar as the centerpiece of her activities. She went beyond selling tonic, tinctures, and brews to ease the sniffles and complaints of the townsfolk. She had powerful magick at her disposal.

One day a merchant refused to come down on the price while haggling with Karenna over the price of his gourds in the market. Without thinking, she uttered a curse that afflicted the merchant with leprosy. Within minutes he broke out in large, itching boils and large sores all over his body. He begged her to stop, but it was too late. She helped herself to the gourds as the farmer lay writhing in agony.

From there, dark clouds parked over the town. It rained at least once per day. The town was stricken with melancholy and a general malaise across the whole population. The only time anyone approached Karenna was to ask a favor as if she had gained the ability to grant wishes.

Enter the PCs. The townsfolk will be fearful to speak about Karenna publicly. The town has gotten into the habit of quietly offering a reward to anyone who can free them from the blight of the Cave Witch.

The exact statistics and lair are up to the GM from here. Karenna knows the townsfolk secretly plot against her and has taken several precautions in and around her cave.

Thanks for stopping by. More on this to come down the road sometime. I think it would make an excellent 5 Room Dungeon.